Best online casinos: Top casino sites in the UK (2025)

CLAIMING the title of the best online casino in the UK is not an easy task, especially when there are so many high-quality gambling sites doing great things.

That being said, there are plenty of UK casinos that excel in certain areas. We closely examine each one of them and check if they can stand up to our rigorous testing for responsible gambling practices, customer service, offers, banking, and of course, games.

So, with this in mind, let’s take a look at the top casinos, what they do well, and, importantly, how you can get maximum value from your time online. 

Best online casino sites in the UK

A closer look at the top casino sites for UK players

What are the best online casinos for UK players? That’s a tricky question to answer because some people place more emphasis on games than promotions, while other people put payment methods top of their list. 

As an industry veteran, I know that everyone is different. That’s why I put my own preferences to one side when I’m reviewing UK casino sites. I have a checklist of features that I work through to ensure everyone’s needs are met. 

That’s the science. The art of reviewing online casinos is my experience. There isn’t anything I’ve not seen or tried, which is why I’m able to provide honest takes on old and new UK casinos. 

If it’s cutting-edge, I’ll point it out. If it’s an industry standard, I’ll tell you. If it’s below expectations, I won’t shy away from highlighting it. In short, the following casinos have gone through rigorous tests, which is why I can confidently call them the top casino sites for UK players right now.

1. Betway

Highlights

• Vast collection of casino games
• In-house Wheel of Vegas slot jackpots
• Plenty of online slots promotions

Betway has been one of the biggest brands in gambling for over a decade, but that’s not why it’s on my list. The welcome bonus caught my attention because of the wager-free element. This penchant for promotions without wagering requirements extends to existing customers, so that’s a great reason to register. 

The best reason I can give you, however, is Betway’s roulette lobby. Tap the sign-up link on this page, and you’ll have access to what I think is an unbeatable selection of roulette games. As expected, the classics are well covered. Alongside European, French and American roulette is a selection of low-stakes tables, including 20p Roulette and 10p Mini Roulette. 

For those with bigger bankrolls, Live Prestige lets you wager upwards of £500 per spin. For a final flourish, Betway has dozens of novel variants and themed tables. I love Vinnie Jones Roulette because I’m a football fan, but don’t sleep on innovative offerings such as Roulette 9 Masks of Fire and Volcano Roulette. 

2. Mr Vegas

Highlights

• Vast collection of casino games
• In-house Wheel of Vegas slot jackpots
• Plenty of online slots promotions

I’ve called Mr Vegas the top online gambling site for slots, but I could have simply said games. All of my top picks cover the basics and more, but none come close to the 8,000+ slots and table games available at Mr Vegas. 

For context, that’s approximately 8x more than the best online gambling platforms, including my current number #1, Virgin Games. Quality doesn’t always follow quantity, but in this case, it does. Mr Vegas works with an impressive list of software providers, including Yggdrasil, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play. 

This means you get access to £4 million+ progressive jackpots, feature-rich video slots such as Tanked, and almighty Megaways slots. If I’m talking about slot games, I can’t ignore Encore and Rainbow Fridays. The former allows you to socialise and compete with other slot players, while the latter gives you guaranteed wins based on the spins you’ve made during the week.

3. Duelz

Highlights

• Generous bonuses and slot jackpots
• Crash and arcade-style games
• Creative software

People are often split when it comes to Duelz. Some people love the lively platform, while others see the animations as an unnecessary annoyance. I like the animated background but the sound effects (which can’t be muted) do become annoying after a while. 

The virtual aspects of Duelz Casino might split the gaming community, but the live elements don’t. For me, Duelz has an impressive collection of live casino games. Blackjack, roulette, poker, and baccarat come in traditional and modern variants. 

From this solid foundation, Duelz has built up a unique live games lobby. All of the latest live game shows are on display, including my favourite, Gonzo’s Treasure Map. Best of all are live casino games from OnAir Entertainment. Very few UK casino operators have partnered with this emerging software provider, which means Duelz has a unique selection of live games, including two exclusive branded roulette tables.   

4. Virgin Games

Highlights

• No wagering requirement bonuses
• Trusted and reputable brand
• Daily free games

Why is Virgin Games among my top picks? There are two reasons: simplicity and entertainment. In my opinion, Virgin Games is the best online casino for newbies and novices because there aren’t any unnecessary or confusing features. 

Don’t get me wrong, I like innovative features. However, I’ve seen a lot of online casino developers who want to be different.  For me, the mark of a world-class casino isn’t in its aesthetics and design, it’s the products it offers. 

That’s why I like Virgin Games. The software is reliable and safe. The interface is easy to navigate, and the platform isn’t overloaded with useless page elements. Removing distractions means you get instant access to over 900 games on any device. 

That’s important in this context for two reasons: 

1. Virgin Games not only offers slots, blackjack, roulette, and table games but a host of other options, including bingo and poker. 

2. Unencumbered access to the varied games lobby makes it easier for you to enjoy the action and earn bonuses, many of which don’t have any wagering requirements!

In my view, all of these qualities make Virgin Games the best casino online for anyone who wants a pure gaming experience with plenty of added value. 

5. Hot Streak Slots

Highlights

• Excellent loyalty rewards program
• Hundreds of high-quality slots
• Weekly slot promotions

My next recommendation for discerning UK casino players like you is Hot Streak Slots. This platform could easily be my top pick for slots because it has more spinners than most gambling sites. However, that’s too obvious. 

The reason I rate this casino so highly is its payment methods. I love the fact that you can make instant deposits and withdrawals using PayPal. I’ve been using this eWallet for the best part of a decade because, quite simply, it’s efficient and safe. 

I’m saying you can’t make fast payments with Hot Streak’s other options, including Visa, MasterCard, and MuchBetter. However, if you want to keep your money online, PayPal is the ideal solution. This, combined with the fact that withdrawals are completed within 24 hours, are the reasons why it’s my preferred payment method. 

6. MrQ

Highlights

• Offers slots, table games and bingo
• Slick mobile-focused platform
• Instant fee-free withdrawals

No wagering bonuses are the holy grail of online gambling. They’re sought after because you get bonus credits or free spins without any ongoing financial commitment. This means you don’t need to bet any money to convert your bonus to withdrawable cash. 

MrQ has more no-wagering bonus offers than basically every other UK casino site out there. The promo code POTS200 gets you a generous welcome bonus worth 200 spins. After that, you’ll be able to claim reload bonuses, free spins and referral rewards on a daily basis. 

I could carry on giving you my take on why MrQ is the best online casino for bonuses, but I don’t need to. The stats speak for themselves. In addition to awarding players more than 6.8 million free spins in 2024, MrQ gave away £3.1 million in free bonus cash. 

7. Dream Vegas

Highlights

• Daily perks
• Exciting bonus wheel game
• High-quality interface

Dream Vegas kicks things off with a £300 deposit match backed by 150 bonus spins. The spins part of the welcome offer excites me more than the deposit bonus, but it’s a solid package, nonetheless. 

For me, the real reason Dream Vegas is one of the top UK online casinos right now is its daily deals. A lot of popular UK casino sites give you one way to get something extra on a daily basis, but very few go beyond that. 

Dreams Vegas not only goes beyond the norm but, in my opinion, sets the standard. Loyalty rewards are flanked by daily perks. These mystery bonus packages are sent out via email each day and contain everything from spins and bonus bets to exclusive prizes. 

You can also spin the Dream Vegas Bonus Wheel once per day. Sometimes, you’ll spin and miss, but other times, you’ll win prizes that range from small cash payments to branded underwear. Yes, it might be a novelty, but it makes things more exciting. 

The final thing I’ll draw your attention to is the software. The grab-to-swipe menu has plenty of useful filters that allow you to find games based on their title, features, and developer. I’d also urge you to use the “Play a Random Game” button. Aside from forcing you to try new games, it adds another layer of excitement to the mix.  

8. Mega Riches 

Highlights

• 1. More than 5,700 casino games
• 2. WinBooster promo that offers guaranteed weekly wins
• 3. Wheel of Riches in-house slot jackpots

Baccarat is a forgotten casino game online. Despite being the preferred choice for high rollers in places such as Las Vegas, the majority of UK online casino sites don’t cover it particularly well. Enter Mega Riches. 

Bringing baccarat back into the limelight like a boss, Mega Riches has more than 50 tables to choose from. The usual lineup of traditional and Dragon Tiger variants are well-represented, as are speed games. What’s impressive about Mega Riches’ baccarat lobby is the addition of “super speed” and no commission speed tables. 

Rounding out the biggest baccarat lobby I’ve seen are themed games, mini tables, and bonus-payout variants. Basically, if you love baccarat, Mega Riches is the best online casino in the UK right now. 

9. Luckster Casino

Highlights

• Excellent customer care
• Great slot bonuses
• Plenty of £1 million slot jackpots

Luckster is great for slot players because all newbies get 100 spins alongside their first deposit bonus. I’d prefer the spins to be credited instantly, but there’s value in releasing them in five increments, namely that it puts a limit on the amount you can play. 

I’m a huge advocate of responsible gaming, and this certainly helps in this regard. Something else I noted during my time using Luckster Casino is that it’s a member of GamStop. I’ve never used this service, but it’s great for people who need to cool off and limit their access to online gambling sites. Moreover, it’s another example of Luckster’s commitment to customer care. 

Getting back to slots, Luckster is linked to Pragmatic Play’s Jackpot Drop network. This means you can play for a share of £2 million in random rewards every month. I’m also a fan of Luckster’s Game of the Week promotion because it gives you a way to unlock mystery bonuses by playing the latest hot slots.

10. Vegas Mobile Casino

Highlights

• Seamless mobile payments
• Bigger-than-average first deposit bonus
• More than 2,500 games

It’s ironic that Vegas Mobile Casino doesn’t have an app, but that doesn’t mean it’s not capable of delivering world-class gaming on the go. I’m not a huge fan of the website’s aesthetic, but that’s a matter of personal preference. When it comes to the nuts and bolts, Vegas Mobile Casino is perfectly constructed. 

Naturally, it’s optimised for use on all devices, which means you can switch effortlessly from your desktop to your mobile without installing any apps. The benefit of being able to play on any device means you’ve got instant access to over 2,500 casino games. 

That’s more than most of the top mobile UK casinos. This desire to give players more is also evident in the welcome bonus. A £1,000 deposit match is massive in today’s gaming climate. The only downside is the 50x playthrough, which is slightly above the industry average of 40x. 

Rounding out this impressive package is a selection of mobile-specific payment options, including Apple Pay, Payz, and Pay by Phone Bill. This, above all else, is why Vegas Mobile Casino is an ideal choice for iOS and Android users. 

How we picked the best casino sites in the UK

I don’t pick online casinos at random. None of the experts here at The Sun do that. We only recommend UK casino sites we’ve tested and believe in. 

To prove my point, let’s walk you through the steps I take when reviewing UK casinos. I won’t call my process a magic formula. However, if a casino impresses in the following areas, I’ll back them to be a hit with you guys.  

Casino licensing and security

If an online casino isn’t licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, it’s not legal in the UK. If that’s the case, I won’t endorse it. Not only that, but unlicensed online casinos are potentially dangerous. 

So, to ensure you’re in line with UK gambling laws and not at risk in any way, I only review and recommend licensed casino sites. For me, UK online gambling licences are shortcuts. It tells me about the following things without having to check:

• The casino’s games are fair because they’ve been tested by an independent company such as iTech Labs. 
• The casino uses the latest encryption technology to comply with data protection laws. 
• The casino offers safe and reputable payment processors, such as Visa and PayPal, to comply with UK financial laws. 

Put simply, if an operator wants to be licensed by the Gambling Commission and offer its services to UK players, it has to comply with strict regulations. These regulations not only govern how gambling is conducted in the UK but mesh with other laws, such as data protection and financial security laws. 

Adherence to responsible gaming standards

Online gambling operators need to care about your welfare as much as we do. Being licensed is the first and most important step in this process. Another way operators show me they care (and comply with UK gambling regulations) is by offering responsible gambling tools. 

Every casino site has its own tools, but the minimum standards I expect are:

• Deposit and betting controls that allow you to limit how much you risk. 
• Session limiters and reality checks so you can control how long you’re active. 
• Timeouts and self-exclusion options so you can take breaks whenever you need them. 
• Contact details for problem gambling organisations, such as GamCare.

In addition to the above, I like operators to provide responsible gambling advice and tips via an onsite FAQ. For top marks, I love to see constant reminders sent to players via email and social media. 

Best casino payment methods available

Licensed online casinos offer safe payment methods, so that’s the first thing to keep in mind.  After that, you should select a payment method based on your preferences with regard to accessibility and processing times. 

The main online casino deposit and withdrawal methods to look out for are:

Best casino games

Quantity is great, but I’m looking for quality when I review online casinos. For me, quality is based on two things:

1. Variety
2. Game features

A varied selection of online casino games consists of something more than slots and classics such as blackjack and roulette. A casino needs the latest innovations, including live dealer games, scratchcards, crash games, and live slots, to get top marks from me. 

The main types of casino games to look out for are:

• Slots
• Poker
• Blackjack
• Baccarat
• Roulette
• Crash games
• Craps
• Scratchcards
• Live dealer table games
• Live dealer game shows
• Live slots
• Bingo
• Lotteries
• Virtual sports betting

In terms of the games themselves, offering products from leading software providers is important to ensure you can enjoy exciting features. That’s why you want games from brands such as NetEnt, Evolution, Big Time Gaming and Pragmatic Play.

Casino welcome bonuses, ongoing promotions

Generous promotions are great from a marketing perspective because who doesn’t want a pocketful of free cash? However, the best casino bonuses are more than flashy offers. 

The right bonuses can help offset negative variance. If you don’t know what that is, let’s just call it bad luck, which is something we all experience playing online casino games. Bonuses counteract bad luck because they offer guaranteed returns. 

Basically, if you meet the wagering requirements (very important), you’ll be rewarded with bonuses. These requirements must be fair. This means the minimum deposit should be achievable for all players (e.g. £10), and you shouldn’t have to wager an excessive amount of money to convert bonus credits to cash (aka the playthrough target).  

The best UK casino bonus offers with fair wagering requirements are:

• Matched deposits – these offers give you bonus credit equal to the amount you deposit, e.g. if you deposit £50, you’ll receive a £50 bonus. 
• No deposit bonuses – the opposite of a deposit bonus is a no deposit bonus. Rewards are released when you perform an action that isn’t a deposit, such as completing the registration process.
• Reload bonuses – first deposit bonuses are also known as welcome bonuses because they’re for new customers. Reload bonuses are for existing customers because you’re reloading your account.
• Bonus free spins – you can play some of the top online slots, such as Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest, without spending a penny by using bonus spins. 
• Cashback – losses won’t sting as much with cashback bonuses because you receive rebates when luck isn’t on your side. 

Mobile experience 

Today, the best mobile casinos are fully-stocked native apps for iOS and Android devices. 

What’s neat about the top mobile casino apps is the fact that they contain features their desktop counterparts don’t have. For example, if you download the MrQ Casino iOS app, you’ll be able to swap your alphanumeric password for Face ID logins. 

In addition to enhanced security, mobile casino apps can link directly to banking apps. This facilitates seamless transactions.

What if my favourite online casino operator doesn’t offer a mobile app? Don’t worry; mobile casino sites are just as slick as their app-based counterparts. What’s more, you can create a shortcut to the mobile site on your mobile’s home screen, which makes it as accessible as an app.  

Customer support

The final quality I assess during my online casino reviews is customer service. For me, a top online casino needs to offer 24/7 support via an FAQ, email and live chat. If there’s a customer support phone number as well, that’s great. 

A lot of UK online casino reviews simply list the available support methods. I don’t do that. I talk to customer service agents. I record response times and score agents based on how efficient, helpful, and polite they are. The top online casino operators have customer support agents who provide swift responses in a friendly manner.  

Award-winning UK casino sites

I’m not the only person who rates online casino sites. Like any other thriving industry, gambling has its own awards ceremonies. In fact, there are a variety of respected organisations dedicated to naming the top online gambling operators. 

By way of patting ourselves on the back for spotting quality, we’re proud to say that almost all of our partner casinos have won awards. I don’t have time to list them all, but here are a few of the accolades our recommended casinos have won in recent years:

• Online Casino of the Year 2024 – LeoVegas (Global Gaming awards)
• Digital Operator of the Year 2023 – BetMGM (Global Gaming Awards)
• Rising Star of the Year 2024 – Mr Vegas (International Gaming Awards)
• Best Customer Service Company of the year 2023 – Casumo (International Gaming Awards)
• Mobile Operator of the Year 2023 – LeoVegas (International Gaming Awards)
• Online Casino Operator of the Year 2023 – VideoSlots (International Gaming Awards)
• Casino Operator of the Year 2024 (Bronze) – LeoVegas (EGR Operator Awards)
• Poker Operator of the Year 2023 – PokerStars (EGR Operator Awards)

Online casino operators can’t do everything on their own. Even though companies such as PartyCasino make their own games, they don’t have the resources to launch new products on a weekly basis. That’s why they partner with independent software providers. 

The best online casino software providers, as voted for by industry experts, work with our partner platforms, including Duelz, MrQ, and Virgin Games. Some of the notable winners are:

• Online Casino Supplier of the Year 2024 – Pragmatic Play (Global Gaming Awards)
• Online Slot of the Year 2024 – Money Train 4 by Relax Gaming (Global Gaming Awards)
• Best Provider of the Year 2023 – Pragmatic Play (AskGamblers Awards)
• Live Casino of the Year 2024 – Pragmatic Play (International Gaming Awards)
• Innovator of the Year 2023 – Yggdrasil (International Gaming Awards)

FAQ about casino sites in the UK

That’s just about all I’ve got to say about the top online casinos, what they offer, and how you can find the right ones for your needs. However, before I go, I need to tie up a few loose ends. So, with that being said, here are the most frequently asked questions about online gambling in the UK and the correct answers. 

1. Are casino sites legal in the UK?

Online casino gambling is legal in the UK as long as the platform in question is licensed by the Gambling Commission. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the official governing body of all gambling matters. From horse racing and poker to sports betting and casino games, the UKGC ensures the regulations, as defined by UK gambling law, are upheld by its licences. Therefore, as long as you use a UKGC-licensed online casino, such as Virgin Games, you can be confident it’s legal and safe. 

2. Can I use my credit card to play at an online casino? 

No, online gambling operators haven’t been able to accept credit card deposits since 2020. The ban on credit card transactions was part of the government’s safer gambling reforms. Banning credit card deposits is designed to reduce the risk of people gambling with borrowed money. Debit card payments are still accepted at the best online casino sites, as are eWallets transactions from processors such as PayPal and Skrill.

3. What wagering requirements to expect at the best online casinos? 

The top casino bonuses have a wagering requirement (aka playthrough target) of 35x or lower. You’d need to bet £350 to clear a £10 bonus with a 35x wagering requirement. Clearing a bonus means you’ve converted it from site credit to cash that can be withdrawn. Any online casino bonus with a playthrough of 35x or lower is almost always claiming if you can do it responsibly. 

4. What online casino has the fastest payouts?

Duelz and Hot Streak Slots are two of the fastest payout online casinos in the UK. These popular online casinos typically process withdrawals within 1-2 days. The average payout time for UK online gambling sites is 3-5 days. Therefore, if you want your winnings in less time, it’s worth checking out Duelz and Hot Streak.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk